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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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, |. p( Y1 ]5 u0 t2 l1 }Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes1 S! e# r; E9 `/ ]
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
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, P2 J* z; L+ c t: L( ?5 l0 {; cAn ambitious city plan to build almost 4,000 new units of affordable housing in Edmonton over the next three years is welcome news for an advocate for the poor.
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3 T' E, D* e& h# A) M9 ?Cam McDonald, a spokesman with the YMCA, said demand is brisk these days for the organization's simple accommodations, which have become home to hundreds of people.
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. T, M1 V2 p% [& f1 N3 aThe $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said. 8 t, [7 e6 J9 @# E. O% C( y
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"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.
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+ t& i: T {) E; s/ C wIn the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months.
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"I did find a job within the first couple of days, but it's very difficult to find a place to live," said Darlene LePage, who moved from Montreal with her daughter to make a better life in boom-time Alberta.: P: o6 s3 Z: g0 M9 s9 S* Q9 r* L
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City officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.
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But McDonald said the work will have to continue for five or even 10 years if Edmonton is going to meet the needs of those who can't find affordable housing.
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- `- B4 {7 o. y! q2 z1 Y"It's going to take time — this is not an overnight solution by any means — but I think we are making good progress." |
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